Wiper for a container

Abstract

A wiper which seals the container upon withdrawal of an applicator from the container. The wiper comprises an upper part and a lower part which is a sealing part, and wherein the sealing part is a self-sealing resilient structure. In a closed state of the sealing part, the sealing part forms a seal at a distal end of the wiper and in an open state, an opening is formed at the distal end of the wiper, when the applicator is inserted into the wiper. The wiper of the present disclosure can be employed in the container used for application of cosmetic or care products include viscous cosmetics, mascara, eye liner, lip gloss, hair color and like products.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A wiper for a container, the wiper comprising:
 an upper part and a lower part, wherein the lower part is a sealing part; 
 wherein the sealing part extends from the upper part towards a distal end of the wiper, the sealing part comprises at least three sidewalls; 
 wherein the sealing part is capable of assuming a closed state and an open state; 
 wherein in the closed state, the at least three sidewalls converge towards a central longitudinal axis of the wiper such that free ends of adjacent sidewalls of the at least three sidewalls abut each other to form a Y-shaped seal at the distal end of the wiper; 
 wherein in the closed state, the adjacent sidewalls of the sealing part come together to define slits between the free ends of the adjacent sidewalls; 
 wherein all the slits meet one another at a point on the central longitudinal axis of the wiper; 
 wherein in an open state, the at least three sidewalls are deflected away from the central longitudinal axis of the wiper such that their free ends move apart from each other; and 
 wherein the at least three sidewalls are resilient and bias the sealing part towards the closed state. 
 
     
     
       2. The wiper of  claim 1 , wherein the upper part and the sealing part are constructed separately and then assembled together to form the wiper. 
     
     
       3. The wiper of  claim 2 , wherein the sealing part is secured to an outer surface of the upper part and extends downwardly from the outer surface of the upper part. 
     
     
       4. The wiper of  claim 3 , wherein the sealing part has an annular projection and an annular groove on its inner surface that mate with a corresponding annular groove and a corresponding annular projection present on the outer surface of the upper part. 
     
     
       5. The wiper of  claim 2 , wherein the upper part and the sealing part are made up of two different materials. 
     
     
       6. The wiper of  claim 5 , wherein the two materials differ in one of a physical or a chemical property. 
     
     
       7. The wiper of  claim 1 , wherein the upper part of the wiper comprises a cylindrical upper portion and a conically tapered lower portion, and wherein the lower portion of the upper part defines a wiping orifice. 
     
     
       8. A wiper for a container, the wiper comprising:
 an upper part and a lower part wherein the lower part is a sealing part; 
 wherein the sealing part extends from the upper part towards a distal end of the wiper, the sealing part comprises at least three sidewalls; 
 wherein the sealing part is capable of assuming a closed state and an open state; 
 wherein in the closed state, the at least three sidewalls converge towards a central longitudinal axis of the wiper such that free ends of adjacent sidewalls of the at least three sidewalls abut each other to form a Y-shaped seal at the distal end of the wiper; 
 wherein in an open state, the at least three sidewalls are deflected away from the central longitudinal axis of the wiper such that their free ends move apart from each other; 
 wherein the at least three sidewalls are resilient and bias the sealing part towards the closed state; 
 wherein the sealing part comprises an upper portion which is cylindrical in shape and a lower portion comprising the at least three sidewalls; and 
 wherein the at least three sidewalls extend inwardly and downwardly from the cylindrical upper portion of the sealing part, towards the central longitudinal axis of the wiper such that the free ends of the adjacent sidewalls of the at least three sidewalls abut each other at the distal end of the wiper. 
 
     
     
       9. The wiper of  claim 8 , wherein the upper portion of the sealing part is made of a rigid material and the lower portion is made of a soft material. 
     
     
       10. A wiper for a container, the wiper comprising:
 an upper part and a lower part wherein the lower part is a sealing part; 
 wherein the sealing part extends from the upper part towards a distal end of the wiper, the sealing part comprises at least three sidewalls; 
 wherein the sealing part is capable of assuming a closed state and an open state; 
 wherein in the closed state, the at least three sidewalls converge towards a central longitudinal axis of the wiper such that free ends of adjacent sidewalls of the at least three sidewalls abut each other to form a seal at the distal end of the wiper; 
 wherein in an open state, the at least three sidewalls are deflected away from the central longitudinal axis of the wiper such that their free ends move apart from each other; 
 wherein the at least three sidewalls are resilient and bias the sealing part towards the closed state; and 
 wherein the at least three sidewalls are curved such that an inner surface of each of the at least three sidewalls is convex and an outer surface of each of the at least three sidewalls is concave. 
 
     
     
       11. The wiper of  claim 1 , wherein the outer surface of each of the at least three sidewalls has at least one longitudinal rib which extends over at least half a length of the at least three sidewalls. 
     
     
       12. The wiper of  claim 1 , wherein in the open state, the at least three sidewalls form an opening at the distal end of the wiper. 
     
     
       13. A packaging assembly comprising a wiper of  claim 1  and wherein the packaging assembly further comprises:
 a container having a receptacle and a neck; 
 an applicator comprises a cap, a stem and an application means; 
 a distal end of the stem is connected to the application means and a proximal end of stem is connected to the cap; and 
 wherein the wiper is fitted into the neck of the container. 
 
     
     
       14. The packaging assembly of  claim 13 , wherein when the applicator is inserted into the container through the sealing part of the wiper, the application means contacts the at least three side walls of the sealing part causing the sidewalls to distort and forcing the free ends of the at least three resilient sidewalls to move apart to provide an opening to the applicator, the sealing part thus assuming the open state. 
     
     
       15. The packaging assembly of  claim 14 , wherein shape and size of the opening provided by the sealing part for the applicator depends on the shape and size of the application means and the stem of the applicator inserted there through. 
     
     
       16. The packaging assembly of  claim 13 , wherein when the application means and the stem are withdrawn from the container, the sealing part assumes the closed state.